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New Apple TV finally revealed

Amongst its many announcements today, Apple has unveiled the long-awaited revamp of Apple TV, bringing with it Siri, a touch screen remote and its very own App Store.

The tech giant says the new Apple TV has been built with a new generation of high performance hardware, and introduces an “intuitive and fun” interface, which users can operate using the Apple TV Remote.

"We believe the future of television is apps,” Tim Cook, Apple CEO, announced.

Apple TV will run the all-new tvOS operating system, which is based around Apple’s iOS. The tvOS enables iOS developers to create new apps and games specifically for Apple TV.

“There has been so much innovation in entertainment and programming through iOS apps, we want to bring that same excitement to the television,” says Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.

“Apps make the TV experience even more compelling for viewers and we think apps represent the future of TV.”

Cue says the Apple TV remote simplifies how users select, scroll and navigate through content while bringing unique interactivity to the new Apple TV by using a glass touch surface that handles both small, accurate movements as well as big, sweeping ones.

He says adding touch to Apple TV creates a ‘natural, connected experience’, even if the TV screen is on the other side of the room.

“Developers can take advantage of the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, and the touch surface on the Apple TV Remote to create games and other app experiences that have never been seen on TV before,” Cue explains.

“tvOS is the new operating system for Apple TV, and the tvOS SDK provides tools and APIs for developers to create amazing experiences for the lounge room the same way they created a global app phenomenon for iPhone and iPad,” he says. “The new, more powerful Apple TV features the Apple-designed A8 chip for even better performance so developers can build engaging games and custom content apps for the TV.”

tvOS supports key iOS technologies including Metal, for detailed graphics, complex visual effects and Game Center, to play and share games with friends, he adds.

The new Apple TV is expected to become available this October, with a $149 price tag.